Speech Patterns

Speech Patterns

As children, we imitate and mimic those around us. This helps us develop our speaking skills. Without our realizing, these vocal styles and mannerisms and vocal styling we mimic become the habit pattern for our speaking. As time goes by we become very comfortable with the way we speak to the point where it can become almost challenging to change them. Those of us who have lived in different parts of the world have speaking patterns that are characteristics of that region.

Accent reduction or minimization involves learning new habit patterns for speaking. For grownups, it becomes next to impossible to do away entirely with their native accent. However, marginal modification of accent or altering the way words are formed is not something that cannot be done. Books and audio programs that are specifically created to assist actors speak with a more natural, regional, or foreign accent, are available in stores.